Shade roller



J. W. FAY

SHADE ROLLER Mh. w, m6..v

J. w. FAY l @031,473

SHADE `ROLLER Filed March 18, 1935 2 Sheets-S1166?, 2

lllllllll Yunal Il gli? 7 Patented Feb. 18, 1936 SHADE ROLLER Joseph W. Fay, Villa'ParkIll., assigner of onehalf Yto Ersyl F. Chambless, Chicago, D1.

Application March 1s, 1935, serial No. 11,615

14 Claims.

This invention relates to shade rollers such as are provided with coiled springs which are wound or tensioned as the shade is pulled out to covera window or the like, and which act to roll the shade up on the roller when the locking or stop means'is released.

Shade rollers provided with spindles which slip into suitable brackets and are held against rotation thereby have been provided before.

The locking or stop means heretofore provided have usually consisted of pawls pivoted to a member which rotates with the shade roller and arranged to enter notches in a member held against rotation by the spindle. These locking or stop means have been provided merely to hold the shade in the position into which it is pulled out and against rolling up under the action of the spring. They have been released by drawing the shade down suiciently to disengage the pawls, whereupon the spring imparts suflicient speed to the roller to hold the pawls released and to turn the roller to Wrap the shade thereon.

Consequently, these locking or stop devices have been ineffective above the speed at which the "'pawls are released. As a result, if the operator winds the shade up too fast or lets go of the shade, it will wind itself around the roller rapidly, with possible destruction to the shade and annoyance to the operator.

`l The present invention may be characterized as an improvement upon the inventions illustrated and described in the copending application of Ersyl F. Chambless, filed July 25, 1934, Serial No. 736,819, and in the copending application of the present applicant, filed January 7, 1935,

Serial No. 619, and its object is to provide improved means for preventing too rapid rolling of the shade up on its roller.

Another object is to provide simple and inexpensive means of this sort which will be positive under all conditions.

lAnother object is to provide means of this sort which is readily combinable with the usual locking or stop means for holding the shade in its different unrolled positions.

Another object is to provide means for permitting placing the spindle of the shade in its bracket only in the position for proper operation of the means for preventing too rapid rolling of the shade up on its roller.

Further objects and the features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary longitudinal section on an enlarged scale and partially in elevation through one end of a shade roller embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional View of the shade roller shown in Figure l, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing one stage of action of the means for preventing too rapid rolling of the shade up on its roller as the shade is drawn down to cover the window;

Figure 4 is a section similar to Figure 3 show ing another stage of action of the means for preventing too rapid rolling of the shade up on its roller as the shade is drawn down to cover the window; y

Figures5 and 6 are sections similar to Figures 3 and 4 showing the manner in which the means for preventing too rapid rolling of the shade up on its roller operates to permit the shade to be rolled up so long as it is not rolled up too fast, and the manner in which this means operates to prevent too rapid rolling of the shade up on its roller;

on its roller;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing the manner in which the spindle is prevented fromV being placed in the bracket in improper position;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective View showing another form of spindle and bracket for permitting placing the spindle in its bracket only in proper position for operation of the means for preventing too rapid rolling of the shade up on its roller; and

Figure 11 is a sectional view showing a modified form of carrier for the pawls for holding the shade in the position into which it is pulled out andl against rolling up under the action of the spring.

Referring to the drawings, the shade roller is indicated at I0; 'Usually it is formed of wood, as shown, but it may be made of any suitable or preferred material, suchl as wrapped paper or cardboard tubing, or of metal or the like.

The shade Il, which may be Ymade of any suitable shade material, is wrapped upon the roller IU at l2.

The inner end of the wrapped portion is secured to the roller III, and the opposite end of the shade is usually reenforced by a wood strip I3 and provided with a pull cord I4, by means of which the shade is rolled up on the roller or pulled out to cover the window.

'I'he roller I0 is provided with an internal bore I5 for the reception of the usual or any suitable wood stick I6 around which is coiled a helical spring I'I. The spindle I8 has a flattened inner end of reduced width which ts in a flat-sided slot I9 opening into the adjacent end of the stick I6. The engagement of the nat-sided reduced end of the spindle I8 in the slot I9 is relatively tight and joins the stick I6 and spindle I8 against relative rotation. The spring I'I is secured at one end to the roller I8 in any suitable or preferred manner. The other end of the spring I'I has a diametrically turned portion which is inserted through registering openings 28 extending diametrically through the stick I6 and the inner end of the spindle I8 to secure this end of the spring to the spindle. The adjacent end of the stick I6 may be provided with a metal ferrule 2I having at its outer end the rectangular opening 22 through which passes the :dat-sided inner end of the spindle I8. The opposite end of the ferrule 2I has lugs 23 turned back around the rst one or more convolutions of the spring I1 at the adjacent end of the roller. The spindle I8 has an outer end 25 formed as will be hereinafter described to slip into a slot in the bracket 26 (Figures 8 and 9) and held against rotation therein. As the free end of the shade I I is drawn downwardly, the roller I0 rotates about the spindle I8 and winds or tensions the spring I1, and when the free end of the shade is released, the spring I1 tends to turn the roller I0 in the opposite direction to roll the shade up on the roller, as well understood in the art.

A thin metal cup-shaped shell 28 is provided at one end with a wall 29 having a central opening 38 through which the spindle I8 passes freely. This shell 28 is disposed with its annular wall coaxial with the roller I0 and with the end wall 29 abutting the outer end of the roller. Tongues 32, struck out from the end wall 29, are driven into the end of the roller I0 or engaged in notches therein rigidly to secure the shell 28 to the roller I8 for rotation therewith.

Positioned within the inner end of the shell 28 is a metal cam disc 35. The flat-sided inner end of the spindle I8 passes through and fits across its narrow dimension in a rectangular opening 36 in the disc 35 to secure or key the disc 35 against rotation on the spindle I8. The outer end of the spindle I8 its in its bracket 26 (as will be hereinafter described) only in position to dispose the spindle I8 and cam disc 35 in the positions shown in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, with the opposite iiat sides 38 at an angle to a plane extending vertically through the axis of the roller as, for example, at 39. The width 48 of the opening 36 is wider than the width of the dat-sided inner end of the spindle I8 to provide clearance which will permit the disc 35 to be raised obliquely from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4 as the shade is drawn down to cover the window. The disc 35 normally slips by gravity down to the position shown in Figure 3.

Peripherally, the disc 35 is notched or scarfed to form an arcuate pocket 42 terminating at opposite ends in shoulders 43 and 44, and provided intermediate its ends with a depression 45. Positioned for operation within the pocket 42 and confined endwise of the shade roller, between the inner end wall 29 of the shell 28 and an intermediate metal disc 46, is a locking member which may be in the form of a roller 48 as shown, or in the form of a ball member, or of other suitable or preferred form as desired. The intermediate disc 46 fits peripherally in the shell 28 and has a central opening 49 through which the spindle I8 passes and within which it rotates freely.

The inner end of the disc 46 is reduced peripherally to form an annular shoulder 58 which seats against humps 52 punched inwardly in the shell 28 at circumferentially spaced locations to limit inward movement of the disc 46 into the shell 28 and to position the disc with its inner end in close proximity to the adjacent side of the disc 35, yet sufiiciently clear of the same to permit free rotation of the disc 35. The reduced inner end of the disc 46 spaces the annular shoulder 58 outwardly slightly from the inner end of the disc so that the hump 52 may be positioned out of the path of travel of the roller 48.

The annular wall of the shell 28 holds the roller 48 against dropping out of the pocket 42 and, at the same time, is provided with an inwardly raised hump 56 which, as the shade is rolled upwardly upon its roller in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figures 5 and 6, strikes the roller member 48 and propels it circumferentially through the pocket 42. If the shade II is not being rolled up too fast, the roller 48, as it reaches the depression 45 upon being propelled away from the shoulder 43 by the hump 56, drops into the depression 45 and permits the shell 28 and roller I8 to continue to rotate in the direction to wind the shade up on the roller.

If, however, the operator rolls the shade up too fast or lets go of the free end of the shade, the increased speed of rotation of the roller I0 and the shell 28 which rotates therewith will cause the hump 46 to propel the roller 48 on past the depression 45 until the roller member 48 is moved circumferentially against the shoulder 44 and wedges tightly between this shoulder 44 and the hump 56 as shown in Figure 6 to lock the roller I8 against further rotation in the direction of the arrows in Figures 5 and 6 until the shade II is pulled down to release the roller member. The roller 48 may be moved down from the position shown in Figure 6 to the position shown in Figure 4 by the hump 56 in counterclockwise rotation of the shell 28 (Figure 6) as the shade is pulled down, or the upper end of the pocket 42 may be positioned so that the roller 48 will drop to the position shown in Figure 4 as the shade is pulled down slightly.

The shade may then be raised in the usual manner so long as it is not rolled up at sufficient speed again to propel the roller member 48 past the depression 45 and into engagement with the shoulder 44. If the speed of upward movement of the shade is again too great, as, for example, if the free end of the shade is released or the shade rolled up too quickly, the roller member 48 will again be propelled from the shoulder 43, past the depression 45, and into locking engagement with the shoulder 44.

The speed of rotation of the roller I8 at which the roller member 48 is brought into action to stop upward movement of the shade may be varied readily by varying the length 60 of the depression 45. By lengthening the depression 45, the speed at which the roller member 48 is brought into locking action is increased, and by reducing the length of this depression 45, the

speed at which the roller member 48 is brought `into locking action is reduced. For example, if the roller member 48 is propelled past thede`V pression 45 and into locking engagement with the shoulder 44, when the shade is rolled upward- -45 is increased. In the downward movementof theshade, as

indicated by the arrows in Figures 3 and 4,' the cooperation of the hump- 56 with the roller member 48 and the cooperation of the roller member with the cam disc 35 are such as to lift the disc obliquely from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4. This frees the hump 56 from the roller 48 and permits the shade roller III to continue to rotate in the direction in which the shade is drawn downwardly or unl'olled outer side 9I of the bracket in this slot 98 perfrom the roller.

Outwardly of the disc 46 the outer end of the spindle I8 has a flat-sided portion which fits in a rectangular opening at the axis of a metal bushing 64 and keys or secures this bushing 64 against rotation on the spindle I8. This bushing 64 has an annular inwardly stepped portion vwhich ts into a circular opening 65 at the axis of the metal disc 68 and supports this disc 68 for rotation upon the bushing. Pivoted at diametrically opposite positions at 10 to the outer side of the disc 68 are a pair of locking pawls or dogs 12. These pawls or dogs 12 have projections 13 arranged to drop into the upper of a pair of diametrically opposite notches 14 in the bushing 64 for locking the shade in different positions as its downward or upward movement is stopped or reduced in speed suiciently to permit one of the projections 13 to drop by gravity into the upper notch 14, as well understood in the art. The diametrically opposite notch 14 is ordinarily provided to receive the projection 13 in the same manner when the spindle I8 is reversed in its bracket, but where the spindle is non-reversible and adapted to be placed in its bracket in only one position, as herein described, this lower notch 14 may, of course, be omitted.

'I'he projections 13 and the upper notch 14 are.

formed to permit at all times free rotation in the direction in which the shade is drawn downwardly and to lock the shade against upward movement under the action of the spring I1 except at speeds suflicient to hold centrifugally the pawls 12 out of locking engagement. The inner ends of the pivots .10 may extend through the disc 68, and the disc 46 is depressed at 16 to clear these inner ends of the pivots.

The outer periphery of the disc 68 has an integral annular ilange or rim 18 which telescopes relatively tightly into the outer end of the shell 28. The disc 68 is connected for rotation with the roller I8 by punching the outer end of the shell 28 inwardly into a notch in the rim 18 as shown at 8D, or in any other suitable or preferred manner. The disc 68, with its pawls 12, .is held in place in the shell 28 by the annular flange 82 at the outer end of an outer thin metal shell l83 which ts telescopically over the shell 28 and over the outer end of the roller IIJ. This outer shell 83 is rigidly secured to the roller IIJ as by crimping the inner end of its annular wall into engagement with the outer periphery Aof the roller I0, as at 84, and securing the shell 83 to the roller I8 by suitable securing means 85.

For the purpose Yof permitting placing the spindle I8 of the shade inV its 'bracket 26 only inthe position for proper operation of the means for preventing too rapid rolling .of the shade up on `its roller, i. e. only in the position with the spindle I8 and cam 35 ydisposed as shown in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, the sides 86 of the outer end 25 of the spindle are tapered as shown, and the inner end of the slot 81 in the bracket 26 is correspondingly tapered at 88. With the ends of the spindle and the slot 81 in the bracket thus formed, the spindle will enter the bracket only in proper position as shown in Figure 8 and will notV enter the slot 81, at least fully,.when the spindle is reversed as shown in Figure 9.

In the detail modification shown in Figure 10, the outer end 25 of the spindle is flat-sided and provided, on one side, with a vertical slot 98. This slot is adapted to receive the outer side 9| of the bracket 26 when the spindle is applied in the manner shown, and this engagement of the mits the outer end 25 of the spindle to be placed in operative position in the slot 81 in the bracket. At the other side of the slot 81', however, the bracket has a flange 92 turned, as Shown. This ange 92 lwill not engage in the slot 9U, so that if the spindle is reversed, it cannot be inserted into position in the slot 81', and thus the spindle of the shade may be placed in its bracket only in the position for proper operation of the means for preventing too rapid rolling of the shade up on its roller. v

In the modied form of pivoted pawl carrier 68', shown in Figure ll, I have combined in this carrier the pawl carrying disc and the intermediate spacing disc as a unitary piece. The pawls shown at 12 `are pivoted to the member 68 at 18', and the inner ends of the pivots are countersunk at 94. 'I'he inner end of the member 88'v is reduced to form the annular shoulder 58 which corresponds with the annular shoulder 5I] of the previous embodiment of the invention. The countersinking of the inner ends o-f the pivots 18 prevents the inner ends of these pivots from interfering with the proper action of the cam disc 35.

The device is simple and inexpensive in construction and positive under all conditions.

I do not intend tobe limited to the precise details shown or described.

I claim:

1. In combination, a spindle having an end engageable in a bracket and held against rotation thereby, a shade roller rotatable with respect to said spindle and adapted for receiving a shade thereon, means for preventing too rapid rolling of said shade on said roller, said means comprising a cam disc mounted on said spindle and provided with a pocket terminating in a shoulder, a locking member operable in said pocket, and means rotatable with the roller and adapted for positive engagement with said locking member regardless of the speed at which the shade is rolled up on said roller, said last means propelling said locking member into engagement with said shoulder to lock said roller against continued rotation only when the shade is rolled up too rapidly on said roller.

2. In combination, a spindle having an end engageable in a bracket and held against rotation thereby, a shade roller rotatablewith respect to said spindleV and adapted for receiving a shade thereon, means for preventing too rapid rolling y of said shade onsaid roller, said means compris- L ing a cam .disc mounted on said spindle and provided with a pocket terminating in'a shoulder, a locking member operable in said pocket, a shell xed to the roller for rotation therewith, and a hump on said shell adapted for positive engagement with said locking member to move said member into locking engagement with said shoulder when the shade is rolled up too rapidly on said roller.

3. In combination, a spindle having an end engageable in a bracket and held against rotation thereby, a shade roller rotatable with respect to said spindle and adapted for receiving a shade thereon, means for preventing too rapid rolling of said shade on said roller, said means comprising a cam disc mounted on said spindle and having an arcuate-shaped peripheral pocket provided at one end with a shoulder and with a depression within its length, a locking member operable in said pocket, and means rotatable with the roller and adapted for propelling said locking member past said depression and into locking engagement With said shoulder only when the shade is rolled up too rapidly on said roller.

4. In combination, a spindle having an end engageable in a bracket and held against rotation thereby, a shade roller rotatable with respect to said spindle and adapted for receiving a shade thereon, means for preventing too rapid rolling of said shade on said roller, said means comprising a cam disc mounted on said spindle and having an arcuate-shaped peripheral pocket provided at one end With a shoulder and with a depression within its length, a locking member operable in said pocket, and means rotatable with the roller and adapted for propelling said locking member past said depression and into locking engagement with said shoulder only when the shade is rolled up too rapidly on said roller, said locking member being displaced into said depression when the shade is not rolled up too rapidly on said roller and when so displaced said propelling means moving vrapidly past said locking member.

5. In combination, a spindle having an end engageable in a bracket and held against rotation thereby, a shade roller rotatable with respect to said spindle and adapted for receiving a shade thereon, means for preventing too rapid rolling of said shade on said roller, said means comprising a cam disc mounted on said spindle and having an arcuate-shaped peripheral pocket provided at one end with a shoulder and with a depression Within its length, a locking member operable in said pocket, and means rotatable with the roller and adapted for propelling said locking member past said depression and into locking engagement with said shoulder only when the shade is rolled up too rapidly on said roller, the speed at which said locking member is moved into locking engagement with said shoulder being varied by varying the length of said depression.

6. In combination, a spindle having an end engageable in a bracket and held against rotation thereby, a shade roller rotatable with respect to said spindle and adapted for receiving a shade thereon, means for preventing too rapid rolling of said shade on said roller, said means comprising a cam disc mounted on said spindle and having an arcuate-shaped peripheral pocket provided at one end with a shoulder and with a depression within its length, a locking member operable in said pocket, and means rotatable with the roller and adapted for propelling said locking member past said depression and into locking engagement with said shoulder only when the shade is rolled up too rapidly on said'roller, said cam disc'being slidable up and down obliquely to raised and lowered positions on said spindle and when in raised position said propelling means moving rapidly past said locking member as the shade is unrolled from the roller.

V7. In combination, a spindle, a shade roller rotatable with respect to said spindle and adapted for receiving a shade thereon, means for preventing too rapid rolling of said shade on said roller, said means comprising a cam disc mounted on said spindle and having an arcuate-shaped peripheral pocket provided with a depression within its length, a locking member operable in said pocket, and means rotatable with the roller and adapted for propelling said locking member past said depression and into locking engagement with said shoulder only when the shade is rolled up too rapidly on said roller, said cam disc being slidable up and down obliquely to raised and lowered positions on said spindle and when in raised position said propelling means moving rapidly past said locking member as the shade is unrolled from the roller, said spindle having an outer end for engagement in a bracket only in position for operation of the means for preventing too rapid rolling of said shade on said roller.

8. In combination, a spindle having an end engageable in a bracket and held against rotation thereby, a shade roller rotatable with respect to said spindle, a shell xed to the roller for rotation therewith, a cam disc mounted on said spindle Within said shell and slidable up and down obliquely on said spindle, a pocket formed in said disc and provided with a depression within its length, a locking member operable in said pocket, and an internal hump on said shell for operating said locking member.

9. In combination, a spindle, a shade roller rotatable with respect to said spindle and adapted for receiving a shade thereon, said spindle having an outer end for engagement in a. bracket only in one position of said spindle with respect to said bracket, and means operable in the position of engagement of said spindle end in the bracket for preventing too rapid rolling of said shade on said roller.

10. In combination, a shade roller, a spindle for said roller, a bracket for said spindle, said bracket having a tapered opening and said spindle having a tapered end for engagement in said opening in only one position of said spindle with respect to said opening.

l1. In combination, a shade roller, a spindle for said roller, a bracket for said spindle, said bracket having an opening, and said spindle having an end provided with a slot and engageable in the bracket opening in only one position of said spindle with respect to said bracket.

12. In combination, a shade roller, a spindle for said roller, a bracket for said spindle, said bracket having an opening, said spindle having a projecting end engageable in the opening in said bracket and provided with a slot, and said bracket being formed not to engage in said slot on one Side of the bracket opening and for engagement in said slot on the other side of the bracket opening.

13. In combination, a spindle having an end engageable in a bracket and held against rotation thereby, a shade roller rotatable with respect to said spindle and adapted for receiving a shade thereon, means for preventing too rapid rolling of said shade on said roller, said means comprising a cam disc mounted o'n said spindle and having an arcuate-shaped peripheral pocket provided at one end with a shoulder and within its length with a depression, a locking member operable in said pocket, means rotatable with the roller and adapted for propelling said locking member past said depression and into locking engagement with said shoulder at the end o'f said pocket when the shade is rolled up too rapidly on said roller, and means operated by stopping and reducing the speed of the downward and upward movements of the shade to lock the same in different positions.

14. In combination, a spindle having an end engageable in a bracket and held against rotation thereby, a shade roller rotatable with respect to said spindle and adapted for receiving a shade thereon, means for preventing too rapid rolling of said shade on said roller, said means comprising a cam disc mounted on said spindle and provided with a pocket terminating in a. shoulder, a lclcking member voperable in said pocket, a shell xed to the roller for rotation therewith, a hump on said shell adapted for positive engagement with said locking member to move same into locking engagement with said shoulder when the shade is rolled up too rapidly on said roller, said cam disc being slidable up and down obliquely to raised and lowered positions on said spindle and when in raised position said propelling means moving readily past said locking member as the shade is unrolled from the roller, and means operated by stopping and reducing the speed of the downward and upward movements of the shade to lock the same inV different positions.

JOSEPH W. FAY.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,031,473. February 18, 1936.

JOSEPH W. FAY.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, second column, lines 5 and 23, claims 6 and '7 respectively, for "rapidly" read readily; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this '7th day of April A. D. 1936.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

